Luna's NA Test!

LunaBrown · Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 9:17 pm Post subject: Luna's NA Test!

What a day - we finally took our NAVHDA Natural Ability Test today!

We were third in the running order which was nice - the sun was not full up yet (it was HOT today), and the breeze had a chance to pick up a little for our field work. Luna had a hard time off the start finding that magical first bird that really sets her gears in motion. Probably in the last 5 minutes she finally found herself a bird, and then promptly another bird which she pointed beautifully - the most beautiful I have ever seen from her. I am the proud momma of a former non-pointing Pointing Dog Very Happy

Next was the water - which went "swimmingly" LOL Wink

I'm pretty sure I can say that my girl loves to swim, so this went really well, despite the water having no gradual entrance - the water went from shore line to swimming depth with no in between. The judges actually asked me not to throw the dummy so far for the 2nd throw, which I was bummed about - the farther I throw it, the harder she dives and in and goes for it.

Third and last was tracking - which I unfortunately do not have anything that nice to say about it... It got VERY windy and it was VERY hot, and to make things more confusing we had stray chukars in the tracking field... oops. I set her on the track and things looked good but she lost it quickly and did alot of fumbling around, found it briefly once again but lost it just as quickly... Embarassed

Despite it all, I am VERY happy with how things went... Why, you ask?

BECAUSE WE TOOK A PRIZE III!!!

I went in hoping to have a good time today, and praying that Luna would remember how to point. I also was hoping to get through with no zeros on my score card - check!

Nose (3), Search (2), Water (4!!), Point (3!!!! Very Happy

), Track (1), Desire (2), Cooperation (3) - Total 76 (of 112 possible)

Now we can sit back and relax until hunting season *sigh of relief* - but I am very much looking forward to getting back on the horse next spring and working towards taking the UPT test!

NenaGunther · Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 10:19 pm Post subject:

Congrats! Yay Luna! Very Happy

h20fwlkillr · Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 10:26 pm Post subject:

Congratulations!!!!!!!

kamfam · Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 10:31 pm Post subject:

Hooray for LunaB!!!!!!!! We are so proud of you!!!!

Great job, Mindy! Luna has come such a long way - because of YOU! Way to go!!!!!!!

anne · Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 10:54 pm Post subject:

WOW, great job girls!! I am very proud of you both!! You had terrible conditions for the track. I'm surprised that you got a 1 in track, but that is me. Anyway, congratulations on a job very well done!

Weimwayz · Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 6:36 am Post subject:

Congratulations!!! What an accomplishment . it's so nice to hear weims getting out into the hunting world. We need more out there to show off what they can do!! way to go!

PamK · Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 9:13 am Post subject:

WOW that is so exciting. Thanks for explaining so much about it. I didn't know how much work was involved. This is so cool.

samckinner · Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 9:44 am Post subject:

Congratulations!!!!!! I don't know what is is , but I'm excited for you just the same.

Sam and Haus Smile

LunaBrown · Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 10:04 am Post subject:

Thanks guys! I love my little bronze medalist so much!! Very Happy

I did forget to add this last night - of 9 dogs tested yesterday, there was only 1 Prize I and only 1 Prize II! There were 4 Prize III's and 3 w/ no prize. I really felt bad for one of the guys I've been training with - he has a 15 month Pudelpointer that is just crazy wild... unfortunately he recently lost his point due to catching birds and ended up with a 0 in pointing. Had it not been for that, it would have been another Prize I dog.

It was a tough day for all the dogs - and today is supposed to be hotter and more windy for the 2nd day of the test, yikes.

LunaBrown · Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 10:06 am Post subject:

anne · Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 12:41 pm Post subject:

The NA tracking test should be testing the dog's willingness to track and his application, not his success. If the dog starts to hunt and never is interested in tracking, then that is one thing, but if he puts his nose down and then hunts due to conditions and then puts his nose down again, etc, I don't think that's a 1. In fact, when Riley did his NA track he took the track, lost it and veered way off with head up, found it again and finished it; the judges comments later were that that was a classic track for a young dog and he got a 4 even though he went off hunting a little bit and it took him some time to refind the track.

In any case, any prize is worth bragging about, and sometimes the conditions can really make a big difference! Dry, hot and overly windy is always tough on the dogs. And, all dogs have their good days and bad. Hope your friend with the PP isn't discouraged. Riley never prized in NA either for the very same reason as your friend and did just fine in UT.

LunaBrown · Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 3:13 pm Post subject:

versatilek9s · Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 9:51 pm Post subject:

Maya also got a 1 in the track...despite the fact that she made some forward progress and kept her nose down for the entire time alotted. She was trying to track, but just hadn't been taught how! Made her miss out on a prize I. I think the track is judged differently at different tests and I will certainly prepare for it with future dogs instead of winging it!

Great job!! Very Happy

Colleen74 · Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 5:40 pm Post subject:

I'm considering taking the NA test this November in VA at the request of Gerts breeder and others that keep telling me she's got the "drive and range" she needs to pass it. She's been on birds quite a bit but hasn't started pointing yet. What specific things can I do to prepare for this besides keeping her on birds? I was reading through what she's required to prove and I feel really good about all of it besides the pointing. She just doesn't do it consistently. I'm completely new to this so any advice is much appreciated!

LunaBrown · Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 8:28 pm Post subject: